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De Oliveira DH, Gowda V, Sparrman T, Gustafsson L, Sanches Pires R, Riekel C, Barth A, Lendel C, Hedhammar M. Structural conversion of the spidroin C-terminal domain during assembly of spider silk fibers. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4670. [PMID: 38821983 PMCID: PMC11143275 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49111-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The major ampullate Spidroin 1 (MaSp1) is the main protein of the dragline spider silk. The C-terminal (CT) domain of MaSp1 is crucial for the self-assembly into fibers but the details of how it contributes to the fiber formation remain unsolved. Here we exploit the fact that the CT domain can form silk-like fibers by itself to gain knowledge about this transition. Structural investigations of fibers from recombinantly produced CT domain from E. australis MaSp1 reveal an α-helix to β-sheet transition upon fiber formation and highlight the helix No4 segment as most likely to initiate the structural conversion. This prediction is corroborated by the finding that a peptide corresponding to helix No4 has the ability of pH-induced conversion into β-sheets and self-assembly into nanofibrils. Our results provide structural information about the CT domain in fiber form and clues about its role in triggering the structural conversion of spidroins during fiber assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Hirabae De Oliveira
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vasantha Gowda
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Linnea Gustafsson
- Spiber Technologies AB, Roslagstullsbacken 15, 114 21, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Christian Riekel
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, B.P. 220, F-38043, Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - Andreas Barth
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christofer Lendel
- Department of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - My Hedhammar
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Peng Z, Hu W, Yang X, Liu Q, Shi X, Tang X, Zhao P, Xia Q. Overexpression of bond-forming active protein for efficient production of silk with structural changes and properties enhanced in silkworm. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:129780. [PMID: 38290638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Silkworm silk exhibits excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and has potential applications in the biomedical sector. This study focused on enhancing the mechanical properties of Bombyx mori silk by overexpressing three bond-forming active proteins (BFAPs): AFP, HSP, and CRP in the silk glands of silkworms. Rheological tests confirmed increased viscoelasticity in the liquid fibroin stock solution of transgenic silkworms, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) indicated that all three BFAPs participated in the interactions between fibroin molecular networks in transgenic silk. The mechanical property assay indicated that all three BFAPs improved the mechanical characteristics of transgenic silk, with AFP and HSP having the most significant effects. A synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy assay showed that all three BFAPs increased the β-sheet content of transgenic silk. Synchrotron radiation wide-angle X-ray diffraction assay showed that all three BFAPs changed the crystallinity, crystal size, and orientation factor of the silk. AFP and HSP significantly improved the mechanical attributes of transgenic silk through increased crystallinity, refined crystal size, and a slight decrease in orientation. This study opens new possibilities for modifying silk and other fiber materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangchuan Peng
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Institute of Advanced Pathology, Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xi Yang
- Chongqing Municipality Clinical Research Center for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Qingsong Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - XiaoTing Shi
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xin Tang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine & Health Science, Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing, China
| | - Ping Zhao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing 400716, China.
| | - Qingyou Xia
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sericultural Science, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Chongqing 400716, China.
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3
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Qi X, Wang Y, Yu H, Liu R, Leppert A, Zheng Z, Zhong X, Jin Z, Wang H, Li X, Wang X, Landreh M, A Morozova-Roche L, Johansson J, Xiong S, Iashchishyn I, Chen G. Spider Silk Protein Forms Amyloid-Like Nanofibrils through a Non-Nucleation-Dependent Polymerization Mechanism. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304031. [PMID: 37455347 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils-nanoscale fibrillar aggregates with high levels of order-are pathogenic in some today incurable human diseases; however, there are also many physiologically functioning amyloids in nature. The process of amyloid formation is typically nucleation-elongation-dependent, as exemplified by the pathogenic amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Spider silk, one of the toughest biomaterials, shares characteristics with amyloid. In this study, it is shown that forming amyloid-like nanofibrils is an inherent property preserved by various spider silk proteins (spidroins). Both spidroins and Aβ capped by spidroin N- and C-terminal domains, can assemble into macroscopic spider silk-like fibers that consist of straight nanofibrils parallel to the fiber axis as observed in native spider silk. While Aβ forms amyloid nanofibrils through a nucleation-dependent pathway and exhibits strong cytotoxicity and seeding effects, spidroins spontaneously and rapidly form amyloid-like nanofibrils via a non-nucleation-dependent polymerization pathway that involves lateral packing of fibrils. Spidroin nanofibrils share amyloid-like properties but lack strong cytotoxicity and the ability to self-seed or cross-seed human amyloidogenic peptides. These results suggest that spidroins´ unique primary structures have evolved to allow functional properties of amyloid, and at the same time direct their fibrillization pathways to avoid formation of cytotoxic intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingmei Qi
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Hairui Yu
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Ruifang Liu
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, 17165, Sweden
| | - Zihan Zheng
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Huddinge, 14152, Sweden
| | - Zhen Jin
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Han Wang
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xiaoli Li
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xiuzhe Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, 17165, Sweden
| | | | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
| | - Sidong Xiong
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Igor Iashchishyn
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, 14157, Sweden
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4
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Perera D, Li L, Walsh C, Silliman J, Xiong Y, Wang Q, Schniepp HC. Natural spider silk nanofibrils produced by assembling molecules or disassembling fibers. Acta Biomater 2023; 168:323-332. [PMID: 37414111 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.06.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Spider silk is biocompatible, biodegradable, and rivals some of the best synthetic materials in terms of strength and toughness. Despite extensive research, comprehensive experimental evidence of the formation and morphology of its internal structure is still limited and controversially discussed. Here, we report the complete mechanical decomposition of natural silk fibers from the golden silk orb-weaver Trichonephila clavipes into ≈10 nm-diameter nanofibrils, the material's apparent fundamental building blocks. Furthermore, we produced nanofibrils of virtually identical morphology by triggering an intrinsic self-assembly mechanism of the silk proteins. Independent physico-chemical fibrillation triggers were revealed, enabling fiber assembly from stored precursors "at-will". This knowledge furthers the understanding of this exceptional material's fundamentals, and ultimately, leads toward the realization of silk-based high-performance materials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Spider silk is one of the strongest and toughest biomaterials, rivaling the best man-made materials. The origins of these traits are still under debate but are mostly attributed to the material's intriguing hierarchical structure. Here we fully disassembled spider silk into 10 nm-diameter nanofibrils for the first time and showed that nanofibrils of the same appearance can be produced via molecular self-assembly of spider silk proteins under certain conditions. This shows that nanofibrils are the key structural elements in silk and leads toward the production of high-performance future materials inspired by spider silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinidu Perera
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - Linxuan Li
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - Chloe Walsh
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - Jacob Silliman
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - Yawei Xiong
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - Qijue Wang
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA
| | - Hannes C Schniepp
- Applied Science Department, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA.
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5
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Naghilou A, Peter K, Millesi F, Stadlmayr S, Wolf S, Rad A, Semmler L, Supper P, Ploszczanski L, Liu J, Burghammer M, Riekel C, Bismarck A, Backus EHG, Lichtenegger H, Radtke C. Insights into the material properties of dragline spider silk affecting Schwann cell migration. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125398. [PMID: 37330085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Dragline silk of Trichonephila spiders has attracted attention in various applications. One of the most fascinating uses of dragline silk is in nerve regeneration as a luminal filling for nerve guidance conduits. In fact, conduits filled with spider silk can measure up to autologous nerve transplantation, but the reasons behind the success of silk fibers are not yet understood. In this study dragline fibers of Trichonephila edulis were sterilized with ethanol, UV radiation, and autoclaving and the resulting material properties were characterized with regard to the silk's suitability for nerve regeneration. Rat Schwann cells (rSCs) were seeded on these silks in vitro and their migration and proliferation were investigated as an indication for the fiber's ability to support the growth of nerves. It was found that rSCs migrate faster on ethanol treated fibers. To elucidate the reasons behind this behavior, the fiber's morphology, surface chemistry, secondary protein structure, crystallinity, and mechanical properties were studied. The results demonstrate that the synergy of dragline silk's stiffness and its composition has a crucial effect on the migration of rSCs. These findings pave the way towards understanding the response of SCs to silk fibers as well as the targeted production of synthetic alternatives for regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Naghilou
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Karolina Peter
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Flavia Millesi
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah Stadlmayr
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Wolf
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anda Rad
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Semmler
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Supper
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Leon Ploszczanski
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jiliang Liu
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Manfred Burghammer
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Christian Riekel
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Alexander Bismarck
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Chemistry & Research, Währingerstraße 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ellen H G Backus
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Währingerstraße 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Helga Lichtenegger
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, Institute of Physics and Materials Science, Peter-Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Radtke
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
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6
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De Oliveira DH, Biler M, Mim C, Enstedt L, Kvick M, Norman P, Linares M, Hedhammar M. Silk Assembly against Hydrophobic Surfaces─Modeling and Imaging of Formation of Nanofibrils. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023; 6:1011-1018. [PMID: 36791416 PMCID: PMC10031558 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
A detailed insight about the molecular organization behind spider silk assembly is valuable for the decoding of the unique properties of silk. The recombinant partial spider silk protein 4RepCT contains four poly-alanine/glycine-rich repeats followed by an amphiphilic C-terminal domain and has shown the capacity to self-assemble into fibrils on hydrophobic surfaces. We herein use molecular dynamic simulations to address the structure of 4RepCT and its different parts on hydrophobic versus hydrophilic surfaces. When 4RepCT is placed in a wing arrangement model and periodically repeated on a hydrophobic surface, β-sheet structures of the poly-alanine repeats are preserved, while the CT part is settled on top, presenting a fibril with a height of ∼7 nm and a width of ∼11 nm. Both atomic force microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy imaging support this model as a possible fibril formation on hydrophobic surfaces. These results contribute to the understanding of silk assembly and alignment mechanism onto hydrophobic surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Hirabae De Oliveira
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michal Biler
- Division of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carsten Mim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, Royal Technical Institute (KTH), Hälsovägen 11C, SE-141 27 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Linnea Enstedt
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Patrick Norman
- Division of Theoretical Chemistry and Biology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathieu Linares
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Scientific Visualization Group, ITN, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - My Hedhammar
- Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Yazawa K, Iwata S, Gotoh Y. Wild Silkworm Cocoon Waste Conversion into Tough Regenerated Silk Fibers by Solution Spinning. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1700-1708. [PMID: 36917682 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Wild silkworm silk fibers have garnered attention owing to their softness, natural color, lightweight, and excellent mechanical properties. Because most wild silkworm cocoons obtained are pierced or dirty after the eclosion process, it is difficult to reel the long filament from the pierced cocoons to use as textile materials. Therefore, damaged wild silkworm cocoons are typically removed during the industrial process. Artificial silk spinning has been developed to transform domesticated silkworm silk solutions into regenerated silk fibers. However, regenerated fibers derived from wild silkworm silk have not been reported. Here, we produced regenerated silk fibers using a dry-wet spinning method using a dope solution derived from wild silkworm silk cocoon wastes. These regenerated silk fibers have thick and uniform diameters, unlike native silk fibers, contributing to their usefulness for sterilization and handling in medical applications. Moreover, they exhibited the same level of mechanical strength as their native counterparts. The molecular orientation and crystallinity of the regenerated silk fibers were adjustable by the drawing process, enabling the realization of their various tensile properties. This study promotes the utilization of unused protein resources to produce mechanically stable and tough silk-based fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenjiro Yazawa
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan.,Division of Biological and Medical Fibers, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Institute for Fiber Engineering, Shinshu University, 3-15-1, Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Iwata
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
| | - Yasuo Gotoh
- Division of Biological and Medical Fibers, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Institute for Fiber Engineering, Shinshu University, 3-15-1, Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shinshu University, 3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda, Nagano 386-8567, Japan
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8
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Yoshioka T, Kameda T, Burghammer M, Riekel C. Mesoscale Confinement in Bagworm Silk: A Hidden Structural Organization. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:827-834. [PMID: 36662558 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c03734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
While silk fibers produced by silkworms and spiders are frequently described as a network of amorphous protein chains reinforced by crystalline β-sheet nanodomains, the importance of higher-order, self-assembled structures has been recognized for advanced modeling of mechanical properties. General acceptance of hierarchical structural models is, however, currently limited by lack of experimental results. Indeed, X-ray scattering studies of spider's dragline-type fibers have been particularly limited by low crystallinities. Here we are reporting on probing the local structure of exceptionally crystalline bagworm silk fibers by X-ray nanobeam scattering. Probing the comparable thickness of cross sections with an X-ray nanobeam allows removing the strong scattering background from the outer sericin layer and reveals a hidden structural organization due to a radial gradient in diameters of mesoscale nanofibrillar bundles in the fibroin phase. Our results provide direct support for lateral interactions between nanofibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyo Yoshioka
- Silk Materials Research Group, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
| | - Tsunenori Kameda
- Silk Materials Research Group, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
| | - Manfred Burghammer
- The European Synchrotron (ESRF), 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS40220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Christian Riekel
- The European Synchrotron (ESRF), 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS40220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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9
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Tracey CT, Kryuchkova AV, Bhatt TK, Krivoshapkin PV, Krivoshapkina EF. Silk for post-harvest horticultural produce safety and quality control. J FOOD ENG 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2022.111231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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10
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Asakura T, Nishimura A, Naito A. Stretching-Induced Conformational Transition of [3- 13C]Ser- and [3- 13C]Tyr- Antheraea yamamai Silk Fibroin before Spinning Investigated with 13C Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:5095-5105. [PMID: 36449573 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The conformational transition of [3-13C]Ser- and [3-13C]Tyr-Antheraea yamamai silk fibroin before spinning induced by stretching was investigated with 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy. The α-helix content of the silk fibroin before stretching was found to be 31.6% based on the Ala and Ser peaks. With increasing stretching ratio, the α-helix and the random coil Ala Cβ peaks decreased gradually, while the β-sheet peak was observed at a stretching ratio of ×5 and increased rapidly upon further stretching. For Ser residue, the α-helix peak decreased monotonically with increasing stretching ratio, but the random coil peak increased slightly till the stretching ratio of ×5 and then decreased. A small β-sheet peak was observed before stretching and then increased rapidly starting from the stretching ratio of ×7. In contrast, a gradual decrease of random coil peak and an increase of β-sheet peak were observed for the Tyr residue. The results of this investigation may be helpful for further studies of fiber formation mechanism in A. yamamai and in the future design of artificial silk materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akio Nishimura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akira Naito
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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11
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Wang Q, McArdle P, Wang SL, Wilmington RL, Xing Z, Greenwood A, Cotten ML, Qazilbash MM, Schniepp HC. Protein secondary structure in spider silk nanofibrils. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4329. [PMID: 35902573 PMCID: PMC9334623 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanofibrils play a pivotal role in spider silk and are responsible for many of the impressive properties of this unique natural material. However, little is known about the internal structure of these protein fibrils. We carry out polarized Raman and polarized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies on native spider silk nanofibrils and determine the concentrations of six distinct protein secondary structures, including β-sheets, and two types of helical structures, for which we also determine orientation distributions. Our advancements in peak assignments are in full agreement with the published silk vibrational spectroscopy literature. We further corroborate our findings with X-ray diffraction and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Based on the latter and on polypeptide Raman spectra, we assess the role of key amino acids in different secondary structures. For the recluse spider we develop a highly detailed structural model, featuring seven levels of structural hierarchy. The approaches we develop are directly applicable to other proteinaceous materials. Secondary fibril structure is a key component of the mechanical properties of protein materials like silk, yet, limited information is known about the internal structure of these protein fibrils. Here, the authors report on the use of polarised Raman and FTIR spectroscopy to study silk materials and identify six distinct secondary structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijue Wang
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Patrick McArdle
- Department of Physics, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Stephanie L Wang
- Department of Physics, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Ryan L Wilmington
- Department of Physics, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Zhen Xing
- Department of Physics, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Alexander Greenwood
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Myriam L Cotten
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - M Mumtaz Qazilbash
- Department of Physics, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA
| | - Hannes C Schniepp
- Department of Applied Science, William & Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA, 23187-8795, USA.
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12
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Asakura T, Matsuda H, Aoki A, Naito A. Acetylation and hydration treatment of recombinant spider silk fiber, and their characterization using 13C NMR spectroscopy. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.124605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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13
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Structure of Animal Silks. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2347:3-15. [PMID: 34472050 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1574-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As an abundant fibrous protein, animal silks have received a variety of interests in both traditional and high-tech industries, such as textiles, decoration, and biomedicine, due to their unique advantages in mechanical performance, sustainability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. While developing applications of animal silks, the structure of animal silks has also received more and more attention in these decades. Briefly, most animal silks can be considered as semicrystalline fibers, which are composed of β-sheet nanocrystals and amorphous regions. However, different animal silks have similarities and also have obvious differences at different structural levels. In this chapter, we will introduce the structures of the three most representative animal silks, that is, spider dragline silk, tussah silk, and mulberry silk. The similarities and differences in their structures will be highlighted, so as to provide fundamental guidance for the research and use of these animal silks.
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14
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Pechkova E, Nicolini C, Fiordoro S, Riekel C. Mesoscale Ordering of Phycocyanin Molecules in Langmuir-Blodgett Multilayers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:86-91. [PMID: 34918934 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Phycocyanin molecules, which are part of light-harvesting complexes in cyanobacteria, can be assembled into mesoscale multilayer nanofilms by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Results obtained by quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy confirm the homogeneity and reproducibility of phycocyanin Langmuir-Blodgett multilayer deposition. We show by cryo-electron microdiffraction that amorphous phycocyanin Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers form, after annealing at 150 °C and cooling to room temperature, a layered nanofibrillar lattice with rotational disorder. Scanning X-ray nanodiffraction suggests that structural transformation is not homogeneous through the film but limited to patches of up to about 10 μm diameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Pechkova
- Laboratories of Biophysics and Nanotechnology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Via A. Pastore, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Fondazione EL.B.A - Nicolini, Pradalunga, Bergamo 24020, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Fiordoro
- Laboratories of Biophysics and Nanotechnology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Via A. Pastore, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Christian Riekel
- The European Synchrotron, ESRF, CS40220, F-38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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15
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Lv Z, Qi P, Cao L, Ling S. Structural Characterization of Silk Fibers by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2347:249-256. [PMID: 34472071 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1574-4_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Nature is rich in all kinds of unbelievably designed microstructures, which endows the natural materials with various fantastic performances. Unveiling the mystery of the sophisticated configurations and the relationship between those microstructures and the corresponding functions is helpful for the manufacture of artificial functional materials. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is an advanced tool to gain the microstructural features of materials within a spatial scale much larger than the atomic scale (1000 nm), which can be carried out along with WAXS to conduct more systematic investigation over different kinds of materials. With the help of SAXS/WAXS, one may generate an insightful understanding of the mechanisms of structure-property evolution (which is efficient guidance for the artificial material designs). This chapter will introduce the mathematics and the methodologies used by SAXS when investigating the microstructure of natural materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuochen Lv
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Qi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Leitao Cao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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16
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Li J, Zhu Y, Yu H, Dai B, Jun YS, Zhang F. Microbially Synthesized Polymeric Amyloid Fiber Promotes β-Nanocrystal Formation and Displays Gigapascal Tensile Strength. ACS NANO 2021; 15:11843-11853. [PMID: 34251182 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ability of amyloid proteins to form stable β-sheet nanofibrils has made them potential candidates for material innovation in nanotechnology. However, such a nanoscale feature has rarely translated into attractive macroscopic properties for mechanically demanding applications. Here, we present a strategy by fusing amyloid peptides with flexible linkers from spidroin; the resulting polymeric amyloid proteins can be biosynthesized using engineered microbes and wet-spun into macroscopic fibers. Using this strategy, fibers from three different amyloid groups were fabricated. Structural analyses unveil the presence of β-nanocrystals that resemble the cross-β structure of amyloid nanofibrils. These polymeric amyloid fibers have displayed strong and molecular-weight-dependent mechanical properties. Fibers made of a protein polymer containing 128 repeats of the FGAILSS sequence displayed an average ultimate tensile strength of 0.98 ± 0.08 GPa and an average toughness of 161 ± 26 MJ/m3, surpassing most recombinant protein fibers and even some natural spider silk fibers. The design strategy and the biosynthetic approach can be expanded to create numerous functional materials, and the macroscopic amyloid fibers will enable a wide range of mechanically demanding applications.
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17
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Wan Q, Yang M, Hu J, Lei F, Shuai Y, Wang J, Holland C, Rodenburg C, Yang M. Mesoscale structure development reveals when a silkworm silk is spun. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3711. [PMID: 34140492 PMCID: PMC8211695 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23960-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk fibre mechanical properties are attributed to the development of a multi-scale hierarchical structure during spinning. By careful ex vivo processing of a B. mori silkworm silk solution we arrest the spinning process, freezing-in mesoscale structures corresponding to three distinctive structure development stages; gelation, fibrilization and the consolidation phase identified in this work, a process highlighted by the emergence and extinction of 'water pockets'. These transient water pockets are a manifestation of the interplay between protein dehydration, phase separation and nanofibril assembly, with their removal due to nanofibril coalescence during consolidation. We modeled and validated how post-draw improves mechanical properties and refines a silk's hierarchical structure as a result of consolidation. These insights enable a better understanding of the sequence of events that occur during spinning, ultimately leading us to propose a robust definition of when a silkworm silk is actually 'spun'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Wan
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mei Yang
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Hu
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fang Lei
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yajun Shuai
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Wang
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chris Holland
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Cornelia Rodenburg
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Mingying Yang
- College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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18
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Nanoscale Material Heterogeneity of Glowworm Capture Threads Revealed by AFM. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123500. [PMID: 34201363 PMCID: PMC8226719 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adhesive materials used by many arthropods for biological functions incorporate sticky substances and a supporting material that operate synergistically by exploiting substrate attachment and energy dissipation. While there has been much focus on the composition and properties of the sticky glues of these bio-composites, less attention has been given to the materials that support them. In particular, as these materials are primarily responsible for dissipation during adhesive pull-off, little is known of the structures that give rise to functionality, especially at the nano-scale. In this study we used tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) to analyze unstretched and stretched glowworm (Arachnocampa tasmaniensis) capture threads and revealed nano-scale features corresponding to variation in surface structure and elastic modulus near the surface of the silk. Phase images demonstrated a high resolution of viscoelastic variation and revealed mostly globular and elongated features in the material. Increased vertical orientation of 11–15 nm wide fibrillar features was observed in stretched threads. Fast Fourier transform analysis of phase images confirmed these results. Relative viscoelastic properties were also highly variable at inter- and intra-individual levels. Results of this study demonstrate the practical usefulness of TM-AFM, especially phase angle imaging, in investigating the nano-scale structures that give rise to macro-scale function of soft and highly heterogeneous materials of both natural and synthetic origins.
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19
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Jiang M, Shu T, Ye C, Ren J, Ling S. Predicting the conformations of the silk protein through deep learning. Analyst 2021; 146:2490-2498. [PMID: 33899058 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00290b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
As with other proteins, the conformation of the silk protein is critical for determining the mechanical, optical and biological performance of materials. However, an efficient, accurate and time-efficient method for evaluating the protein conformation from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra is still desired. A set of convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning models was developed in this study to identify the silk proteins and evaluate their relative content of each conformation from FTIR spectra. Compared with the conventional deconvolution algorithm, our CNN models are highly accurate and time-efficient, showing promise in processing massive FTIR data sets, such as data from FTIR imaging, and in quick analysis feedback, such as on-line and time-resolved FTIR measurements. We compiled an open-source and user-friendly graphical Python program that allows users to analyze their own FTIR data set, which can be from the silk protein or other proteins, for the encouragement and convenience of interested researchers to use the CNN models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Jiang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Ting Shu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Chao Ye
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Jing Ren
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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20
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Lv Z, Qi P, Cao L, Ling S. Structural Characterization of Silk Fibers by Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2347:241-248. [PMID: 34472070 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1574-4_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As one of the most advanced techniques to gain insight into the structure of the materials, wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) records the scattering information at wide angles which typically larger than 5° (2θ), where contains abundant and detailed atomic-scale structure information of the matter. To improve the intensity and time-resolution, the WAXS can be further coupled with a synchrotron light source. The resultant technique, that is, Synchrotron WAXS can reach and even surpass the spatial and time resolution of 0.1 nm and microsecond scale, respectively, thus is very suitable for characterization of animal silks both statically and quasi-dynamically. This chapter would show methods to understand the structure-property relationship of animal silks by WAXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuochen Lv
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Qi
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Leitao Cao
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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21
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Forcibly spun dragline silk fibers from web-building spider Trichonephila clavata ensure robustness irrespective of spinning speed and humidity. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 168:550-557. [PMID: 33333091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Web-building spiders secrete dragline silk fibers to sustain their body and use them as frameworks during web construction. They spin dragline silk fibers at various spinning speed and humidity conditions depending on their natural habitat. Here, we investigated the effect of spinning speed and humidity on the structural and mechanical properties of dragline silk fibers from web-building spider Trichonephila clavata obtained by the forcibly spinning method. We found that the crystal and morphological structures did not rely on the spinning speed and humidity. Furthermore, the mechanical strength and extensibility of the dragline silk fibers were maintained, demonstrating that dragline silk fibers ensure robustness irrespective of the spinning speed and humidity. The results obtained in the present study are helpful not only to understand the biological basis of the silk fiber formation of spiders but also contribute to consider the spinning conditions for the process of creating synthetic silk fibers.
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22
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Hu L, Chen Q, Yao J, Shao Z, Chen X. Structural Changes in Spider Dragline Silk after Repeated Supercontraction-Stretching Processes. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:5306-5314. [PMID: 33206498 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is well-known for its excellent combination of strength and extensibility as well as another unique property called supercontraction. In our previous work, the changes in conformations of the Nephila edulis spider dragline silk when subjected to different supercontraction processes were extensively investigated. When a native spider dragline silk had free supercontraction, and then restretched to its original length, the content and molecular orientation of different conformations (β-sheet, helix, and random coil) changed but the mechanical properties remained almost the same. Therefore, herein, further supercontraction-stretching treatment was performed up to three cycles, and the corresponding structural changes were investigated. In addition to the synchrotron radiation FTIR (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy employed in our previous study, synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (S-SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were also used in this work to determine the structural changes of spider dragline silk in different scales. The results show that by repeating the supercontraction-stretching treatment, the β-sheet structure content in spider dragline silk was slightly increased, but its orientation degree remained almost the same. Also, with the increase in cycle of supercontraction-stretching treatments, a 10.5 nm long period perpendicular to the silk fiber axis gradually appeared, endowing the spider dragline silk with periodic structure both along (6.6 nm, already existed in native silk and did not change with the supercontraction-stretching treatment) and perpendicular to the silk fiber axis. After the third supercontraction-stretching cycle, the AFM images displayed a clear 210 nm × 80 nm corn kernel-like structure on the surface of nanofibrils in spider dragline silks, which may be related to the aggregation of 10.5 nm × 6.6 nm periodic structure observed via S-SAXS. Finally, although the structure of spider dragline silk became increasingly regular with the rise in supercontraction-stretching cycles, mechanical properties remained constant after every cycle of the supercontraction-stretching treatment. These findings can aid in further understanding the structural changes that are related to the supercontraction of spider dragline silk and provide useful guidance in fabrication of high-performance regenerated or artificial silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linli Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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23
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Kelly SP, Huang KP, Liao CP, Khasanah RAN, Chien FSS, Hu JS, Wu CL, Tso IM. Mechanical and structural properties of major ampullate silk from spiders fed carbon nanomaterials. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241829. [PMID: 33166360 PMCID: PMC7652353 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dragline silk of spiders is of particular interest to science due to its unique properties that make it an exceptional biomaterial that has both high tensile strength and elasticity. To improve these natural fibers, researchers have begun to try infusing metals and carbon nanomaterials to improve mechanical properties of spider silk. The objective of this study was to incorporate carbon nanomaterials into the silk of an orb-weaving spider, Nephila pilipes, by feeding them solutions containing graphene and carbon nanotubes. Spiders were collected from the field and in the lab were fed solutions by pipette containing either graphene sheets or nanotubes. Major ampullate silk was collected and a tensile tester was used to determine mechanical properties for pre- and post-treatment samples. Raman spectroscopy was then used to test for the presence of nanomaterials in silk samples. There was no apparent incorporation of carbon nanomaterials in the silk fibers that could be detected with Raman spectroscopy and there were no significant improvements in mechanical properties. This study represents an example for the importance of attempting to replicate previously published research. Researchers should be encouraged to continue to do these types of investigations in order to build a strong consensus and solid foundation for how to go forward with these new methods for creating novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P. Kelly
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Ping Huang
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | - Jwu-Sheng Hu
- Mechanical and Mechatronics Systems Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Lin Wu
- Center for Measurement Standards, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - I-Min Tso
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
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24
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Riekel C, Burghammer M, Rosenthal M. Mesoscale structures in amorphous silks from a spider's orb-web. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18205. [PMID: 33097740 PMCID: PMC7584646 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74638-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the 7-8 silk fibers making up an orb-web only the hierarchical structural organization of semicrystalline radial fibers -composed of major ampullate silk- has been studied in detail, given its fascinating mechanical features. While major ampullate silk's nanofibrillar morphology is well established, knowhow on mesoscale (> 50-100 nm) assembly and its contribution to mechanical performance is limited. Much less is known on the hierarchical structural organization of other, generally less crystalline fibers contributing to an orb-webs' function. Here we show by scanning X-ray micro&nanodiffraction that two fully amorphous, fine silk fibers from the center of an orb-web have different mesoscale features. One of the fibers has a fibrillar composite structure resembling stiff egg case silk. The other fiber has a skin-core structure based on a nanofibrillar ribbon wound around a disordered core. A fraction of nanofibrils appears to have assembled into mesoscale fibrils. This fiber becomes readily attached to the coat of major ampullate silk fibers. We observe that a detached fiber has ripped out the glycoprotein skin-layer containing polyglycine II nanocrystallites. The anchoring of the fiber in the coat suggests that it could serve for strengthening the tension and cohesion of major ampullate silk fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Riekel
- The European Synchrotron, ESRF, CS40220, 38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
| | - Manfred Burghammer
- The European Synchrotron, ESRF, CS40220, 38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Martin Rosenthal
- The European Synchrotron, ESRF, CS40220, 38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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25
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Abstract
Spider web proteins are unique materials created by nature that, considering the combination of their properties, do not have analogues among natural or human-created materials. Obtaining significant amounts of these proteins from natural sources is not feasible. Biotechnological manufacturing in heterological systems is complicated by the very high molecular weight of spidroins and their specific amino acid composition. Obtaining recombinant analogues of spidroins in heterological systems, mainly in bacteria and yeast, has become a compromise solution. Because they can self-assemble, these proteins can form various materials, such as fibers, films, 3D-foams, hydrogels, tubes, and microcapsules. The effectiveness of spidroin hydrogels in deep wound healing, as 3D scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration and as oriented fibers for axon growth and nerve tissue regeneration, was demonstrated in animal models. The possibility to use spidroin micro- and nanoparticles for drug delivery was demonstrated, including the use of modified spidroins for virus-free DNA delivery into animal cell nuclei. In the past few years, significant interest has arisen concerning the use of these materials as biocompatible and biodegradable soft optics to construct photonic crystal super lenses and fiber optics and as soft electronics to use in triboelectric nanogenerators. This review summarizes the latest achievements in the field of spidroin production, the creation of materials based on them, the study of these materials as a scaffold for the growth, proliferation, and differentiation of various types of cells, and the prospects for using these materials for medical applications (e.g., tissue engineering, drug delivery, coating medical devices), soft optics, and electronics. Accumulated data suggest the use of recombinant spidroins in medical practice in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir G Debabov
- State Research Institute for Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms of National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" (NRC "Kurchatov Institute"-GOSNIIGENETIKA), Moscow 117545, Russia
| | - Vladimir G Bogush
- State Research Institute for Genetics and Selection of Industrial Microorganisms of National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" (NRC "Kurchatov Institute"-GOSNIIGENETIKA), Moscow 117545, Russia
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26
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Asakura T. Structure and Dynamics of Spider Silk Studied with Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Molecules 2020; 25:E2634. [PMID: 32517041 PMCID: PMC7321385 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This review will introduce very recent studies using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation on the structure and dynamics of spider dragline silks conducted by the author's research group. Spider dragline silks possess extraordinary mechanical properties by combining high tensile strength with outstanding elongation before breaking, and therefore continue to attract attention of researchers in biology, biochemistry, biophysics, analytical chemistry, polymer technology, textile technology, and tissue engineering. However, the inherently non-crystalline structure means that X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction methods provide only limited information because it is difficult to study the molecular structure of the amorphous region. The most detailed picture of the structure and dynamics of the silks in the solid state experimentally have come from solid-state NMR measurements coupled with stable isotope labeling of the silks and the related silk peptides. In addition, combination of solid-state NMR and MD simulation was very powerful analytical tools to understand the local conformation and dynamics of the spider dragline silk in atomic resolution. In this review, the author will emphasize how solid-state NMR and MD simulation have contributed to a better understanding of the structure and dynamics in the spider dragline silks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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27
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Sogawa H, Nakano K, Tateishi A, Tajima K, Numata K. Surface Analysis of Native Spider Draglines by FE-SEM and XPS. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:231. [PMID: 32266250 PMCID: PMC7099578 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the physical and biological functions of the skin layer of spider dragline have been studied and partially clarified, the morphology and elemental contents of the skin layer of silk fibers have not been investigated in detail to date. Here, the surface of Nephila clavata spider dragline was evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to obtain clear surface morphological and molecular information. The FE-SEM images of the spider dragline indicate that the spider dragline forms a bundle of microfibrils. This hierarchical structure might induce faint fibrilar and network-like patterns on the surface of the dragline. XPS analysis revealed the presence of Na, P, and S, which are reasonably explained by considering the biological components of the major ampullate gland of spiders. The results obtained here are preliminary but will be important to consider the molecular transition of silk proteins to form excellent hierarchical structures during the spider dragline spinning process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromitsu Sogawa
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kyohei Nakano
- Emergent Functional Polymers Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ayaka Tateishi
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tajima
- Emergent Functional Polymers Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Saitama, Japan
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28
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Asakura T, Nishimura A, Aoki A, Naito A. Packing Structure of Antiparallel β-Sheet Polyalanine Region in a Sequential Model Peptide of Nephila clavipes Dragline Silk Studied Using 13C Solid-State NMR and MD Simulation. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:3884-3894. [PMID: 31449407 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Packing structures of polyalanine regions, which are considered to be the reason for the extremely high strength of spider dragline silks, were studied using a series of sequential peptides: (Glu)4GlyGlyLeuGlyGlyGlnGlyAlaGly(Ala)nGlyGlyAlaGlyGlnGlyGlyTyrGlyGly(Glu)4 (n = 3-8) using 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The conformations of (Ala)n in the freeze-dried peptides changed gradually with increasing n from random coils to α-helices with partial antiparallel β-sheet (AP-β) structures. Conversely, all the insolubilized peptides, n = 6-8 after low-pH treatment and n = 4-8 after formic acid/methanol treatment, formed AP-β structures with significant amounts of staggered packing arrangements. These results are different from previously obtained results for pure alanine oligopeptides, that is, AP-β (Ala)n formed rectangular packing for less than n = 6 but staggered packings for n ≥ 7. The 13C-labeled peptides were also used to confirm the staggered packing arrangements from NMR dynamics. Furthermore, a MD simulation supported the observed results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
| | - Akio Nishimura
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
| | - Akihiro Aoki
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
| | - Akira Naito
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
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29
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Asakura T, Okonogi M, Naito A. Toward Understanding the Silk Fiber Structure: 13C Solid-State NMR Studies of the Packing Structures of Alanine Oligomers before and after Trifluoroacetic Acid Treatment. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:6716-6727. [PMID: 31304756 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b04565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Polyalanine (poly-A) sequences with tightly packed antiparallel β sheet (AP-β) structures are frequently observed in silk fibers and serve as a key contributor to the exceptionally high-fiber tensile strength. In general, the poly-A sequence embedded in the amorphous glycine-rich regions has different lengths depending on the fiber type from spiders or wild silkworms. In this paper, the packing structures of AP-β alanine oligomers with different lengths were studied using 13C solid-state NMR as a model of the poly-A sequences. These included alanine oligomers with and without the protection groups (i.e., 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl and polyethylene glycol groups at the N- and C-terminals, respectively). The fractions of the packing structures as well as the conformations were determined by deconvolution analyses of the methyl NMR peaks. Trifluoroacetic acid was used to promote the staggered packing structures, and the line shapes changed significantly for oligomers without the protected groups but only slightly for oligomers with the protected groups. Through NMR analysis of the 3-13C singly labeled alanine heptamer and refined crystal structure of the staggered packing units, a possible mechanism of the staggered packing formation is proposed for the AP-β alanine heptamer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei , Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
| | - Michi Okonogi
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei , Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
| | - Akira Naito
- Department of Biotechnology , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Koganei , Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan
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30
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Asakura T, Matsuda H, Aoki A, Kataoka N, Imai A. Conformational change of 13C-labeled 47-mer model peptides of Nephila clavipes dragline silk in poly(vinyl alcohol) film by stretching studied by 13C solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics simulation. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 131:654-665. [PMID: 30902719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
For determination of the conformation of irregular sequences in glycine-rich region of the Nephila clavipes spider dragline silk, the combination of 13C selectively labeled model peptides for the typical primary structure and their 13C solid-state NMR observations is very useful (T. Asakura et al. Macromolecules. 51 (2018) 3608-3619). However, spiders produce the fiber through the stretching process in nature and therefore, it is difficult to study conformational change by stretching as mimic using the model peptides because these are generally in the powder form. In this paper, 13C selectively labeled three model peptides, (Glu)4(Ala)6GlyGly12Ala13Gly14GlnGlyGlyTyrGlyGlyLeuGlySerGlnGly25Ala26Gly27ArgGly-GlyLeuGlyGlyGlnGly35Ala36Gly37(Ala)6(Glu)4 with three underlined 13C labeled blocks and their poly(vinyl alcohol) blend films were prepared and the conformational changes of these peptides were monitored by stretching of the films using 13C solid-state NMR. In addition, the molecular dynamics simulation was done to evaluate change in the conformation of the sequence by stretching theoretically. The fractions of β-sheet of Ala36 and Gly37 residues in glycine-rich region adjacent to the C-terminal (Ala)6 sequence increased significantly by stretching compared with those of other 13C labeled Ala and Gly residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
| | - Hironori Matsuda
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akihiro Aoki
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Naomi Kataoka
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akiko Imai
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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31
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Yoshioka T, Tsubota T, Tashiro K, Jouraku A, Kameda T. A study of the extraordinarily strong and tough silk produced by bagworms. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1469. [PMID: 30931923 PMCID: PMC6443776 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09350-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Global ecological damage has heightened the demand for silk as 'a structural material made from sustainable resources'. Scientists have earnestly searched for stronger and tougher silks. Bagworm silk might be a promising candidate considering its superior capacity to dangle a heavy weight, summed up by the weights of the larva and its house. However, detailed mechanical and structural studies on bagworm silks have been lacking. Herein, we show the superior potential of the silk produced by Japan's largest bagworm, Eumeta variegata. This bagworm silk is extraordinarily strong and tough, and its tensile deformation behaviour is quite elastic. The outstanding mechanical property is the result of a highly ordered hierarchical structure, which remains unchanged until fracture. Our findings demonstrate how the hierarchical structure of silk proteins plays an important role in the mechanical property of silk fibres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyo Yoshioka
- Silk Materials Research Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Takuya Tsubota
- Transgenic Silkworm Research Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Kohji Tashiro
- Department of Future Industry-Oriented Basic Science and Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Toyota Technological Institute, Tempaku, Nagoya, 468-8511, Japan
| | - Akiya Jouraku
- Insect Genome Research and Engineering Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan
| | - Tsunenori Kameda
- Silk Materials Research Unit, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8634, Japan.
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32
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Abstract
Spider silk exhibits a combination of outstanding tensile strength and extensibility unique among all synthetic and biogenic polymer fibers. It has thus generated great interest to understand protein-based high-toughness materials and inspired the design of similar synthetic materials. The unrivaled properties of silk fibers have been recognized to be intimately related to their hierarchical structure. However, in the absence of unambiguous experimental evidence, competing and incompatible structural models of natural silk fibers have been proposed, some of them including various types of fibrillar components. Here we show that the fibers of the recluse (Loxosceles) spider exhibit the typical tensile properties of a very good spider silk and are entirely composed of 20 nm diameter protein fibrils that are more than 1 μm long. Based on these findings, we developed the most detailed structural model for any silk directly supported by experimental evidence. Our work suggests that all the key properties of a spider silk are implemented within a single nanofibril, and we have isolated and imaged such a nanofibril from a native spider silk fiber. The nanofibril breaking force was estimated to be ≈120 nN. Our work underlines the importance of nanofibrils and furthers the understanding of the structure-property relationships of silk, with wide-ranging implications for silk research and the design of silk-inspired high-performance materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijue Wang
- Applied Science Department, The College of William and Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795, United States
| | - Hannes C. Schniepp
- Applied Science Department, The College of William and Mary, P.O. Box 8795, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795, United States
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33
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Asakura T, Matsuda H, Kataoka N, Imai A. Changes in the Local Structure of Nephila clavipes Dragline Silk Model Peptides upon Trifluoroacetic Acid, Low pH, Freeze-Drying, and Hydration Treatments Studied by 13C Solid-State NMR. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:4396-4410. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Hironori Matsuda
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Naomi Kataoka
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akiko Imai
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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34
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Yazawa K, Malay AD, Masunaga H, Numata K. Role of Skin Layers on Mechanical Properties and Supercontraction of Spider Dragline Silk Fiber. Macromol Biosci 2018; 19:e1800220. [PMID: 30230228 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201800220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is a composite biopolymer that harbors extraordinary mechanical characteristics, and consists of a hierarchically arranged protein core surrounded by outer "skin" layers. However, the contribution of the successive fiber layers on material properties has not been well defined. Here, the influence of the different components on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of dragline is investigated. The crystal structure and the mechanical properties are not changed significantly after the removal of skin constituents, indicating that the core region of dragline silk fibers determines the structural and mechanical properties. Furthermore, the outer layers have little influence on supercontraction, suggesting they do not function as protection against the penetration of water molecules. On the other hand, the outer layers offer some protection against protease digestion. The present study provides insight into how the function and structure of silk fibers are modulated and facilitates the design of silk-inspired functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenjiro Yazawa
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Ali D Malay
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Masunaga
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1, Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo, 679-5198, Japan.,RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo, 679-5198, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
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35
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Yan M, Ma X, Yang Y, Wang X, Cheong WC, Chen Z, Xu X, Huang Y, Wang S, Lian C, Li Y. Biofabrication Strategy for Functional Fabrics. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:6017-6021. [PMID: 30084642 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b02905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Functional fabrics with various unique properties are necessary for making fantastic superior costumes just like a superhero suit in Marvel Comics, which are not only dreams of boys but also emerging textiles to facilitate human life. On the basis of the inspiration of a phenomenon in an extracurricular experiment for kids, we develop a biofabrication strategy to endow silk textiles with various unique physical and chemical properties of functional nanomaterials, where the functional textiles are weaved using silk spun by silkworms that are fed with functional nanomaterials. To confirm the feasibility of this strategy, a photoluminescent plain weave was prepared successfully via feeding biocompatible luminescent nanoparticles to Bombyx mori silkworms. As the functional nanomaterials are enclosed in the silkfibers, the given special properties will be permanent for further application. Considering the wondrous diversity of properties that a variety of nanomaterials possesses may be given to silk fabric, it is promising to see various miraculous costumes in the coming future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muyu Yan
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science , Beijing Jiaotong University , Beijing 100044 , China
| | - Xiaohong Ma
- College of Textiles and Garments , Hebei University of Science and Technology , Shijiazhuang 050018 , China
| | - Yijun Yang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science , Beijing Jiaotong University , Beijing 100044 , China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science , Beijing Jiaotong University , Beijing 100044 , China
| | - Weng-Chon Cheong
- Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , China
| | - Zhenhong Chen
- College of Textiles and Garments , Hebei University of Science and Technology , Shijiazhuang 050018 , China
| | - Xianghui Xu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 210009 , China
| | - Yanjie Huang
- South China National Centre of Metrology , Guangdong Institute of Metrology , Guangzhou 510405 , China
| | - Shuo Wang
- College of Textiles and Garments , Hebei University of Science and Technology , Shijiazhuang 050018 , China
| | - Chao Lian
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science , Beijing Jiaotong University , Beijing 100044 , China
| | - Yadong Li
- Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , China
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36
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Asakura T, Tasei Y, Matsuda H, Naito A. Dynamics of Alanine Methyl Groups in Alanine Oligopeptides and Spider Dragline Silks with Different Packing Structures As Studied by 13C Solid-State NMR Relaxation. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Yugo Tasei
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Hironori Matsuda
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akira Naito
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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37
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Yang N, Zhang W, Ye C, Chen X, Ling S. Nanobiopolymers Fabrication and Their Life Cycle Assessments. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1700754. [PMID: 29952081 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Living organisms produced nanopolymers (nanobiopolymers for short), such as nanocellulose, nanochitin, nanosilk, nanostarch, and microbial nanobiopolymers, having received widely scientific and engineering interests in recent years. Compare with petroleum-based polymers, biopolymers are sustainable and biodegradable. The unique structural features that stem from nanosized effects, such as ultrahigh aspect ratio and length-diameter ratio, further endow nanobiopolymers with high transparence and versatile processability. To fabricate these nanobiopolymers, a variety of mechanical, chemical, and synthetic biology techniques have been developed. The applications of the isolated nanobiopolymers have been extended from polymer fillers into wide emerging high-tech fields, such as biomedical devices, bioplastics, display panels, ultrafiltration membranes, energy storage devices, and catalytic supports. Accordingly, in the review, the authors first introduce isolation techniques to fabricate nanocellulose, nanochitin, nanosilk, and nanostarch. Then, the authors summarized the nanobiopolymers produced from biosynthetic pathway, including microbial polyamides, polysaccharides, and polyesters. On the other hand, most of these techniques require high energy consumption and usage of chemical reagents. In this regard, life cycle assessment offered a quantitative route to precisely evaluate and compare environmental benefits of different artificial isolation approaches, which are also summarized in the second section of the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Yang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,Key Laboratory of Bio-Based Material Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Chao Ye
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xue Chen
- School of Entrepreneurship and Management, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
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38
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Asakura T, Tasei Y, Aoki A, Nishimura A. Mixture of Rectangular and Staggered Packing Arrangements of Polyalanine Region in Spider Dragline Silk in Dry and Hydrated States As Revealed by 13C NMR and X-ray Diffraction. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b02627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Yugo Tasei
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akihiro Aoki
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Akio Nishimura
- Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
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39
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Riekel C, Burghammer M, Snigirev I, Rosenthal M. Microstructural metrology of tobacco mosaic virus nanorods during radial compression and heating. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:194-204. [PMID: 29138785 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01332a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We determined stress-induced deformations and the thermal stability of nanorod-shaped tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) capsids in coffee-ring structures by X-ray nanodiffraction. The hexagonal capsids lattice transforms under compression in the outer boundary zone of the coffee-ring into a tetragonal lattice. The helical pitch of the nanorods increases by about 2.5% across the outer boundary zone while the lateral distance between nanorods decreases continuously across the whole coffee-ring structure by about 2% due to compressive forces. The diffraction patterns show a mixture of helical scattering and Bragg peaks attributed to a lattice of nanorods interlocked by their helical grooves. Thermo-nanodiffraction reveals water loss up to about 100 °C resulting in a reduction of the helical pitch by about 6% with respect to its maximum value and a reduction of the nanorods separation by about 0.5 nm. Up to about 200 °C the pitch is increasing again by about 2%. Secondary crystallization in the bulk reaches a maximum at 150-160 °C. At higher temperatures the crystallinity is continuously decreasing up to about 220 °C. Above about 200 °C and depending on the heating history, the nanorods start disintegrating into small, randomly oriented aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Riekel
- The European Synchrotron, ESRF, CS40220, F-38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
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40
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Nicolas JD, Bernhardt M, Markus A, Alves F, Burghammer M, Salditt T. Scanning X-ray diffraction on cardiac tissue: automatized data analysis and processing. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2017; 24:1163-1172. [PMID: 29091059 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577517011936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A scanning X-ray diffraction study of cardiac tissue has been performed, covering the entire cross section of a mouse heart slice. To this end, moderate focusing by compound refractive lenses to micrometer spot size, continuous scanning, data acquisition by a fast single-photon-counting pixel detector, and fully automated analysis scripts have been combined. It was shown that a surprising amount of structural data can be harvested from such a scan, evaluating the local scattering intensity, interfilament spacing of the muscle tissue, the filament orientation, and the degree of anisotropy. The workflow of data analysis is described and a data analysis toolbox with example data for general use is provided. Since many cardiomyopathies rely on the structural integrity of the sarcomere, the contractile unit of cardiac muscle cells, the present study can be easily extended to characterize tissue from a diseased heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan David Nicolas
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marten Bernhardt
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Markus
- Max-Planck-Institut für Experimentelle Medizin, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Max-Planck-Institut für Experimentelle Medizin, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Manfred Burghammer
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Tim Salditt
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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41
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Carboni E, Nicolas JD, Töpperwien M, Stadelmann-Nessler C, Lingor P, Salditt T. Imaging of neuronal tissues by x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence microscopy: evaluation of contrast and biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 8:4331-4347. [PMID: 29082068 PMCID: PMC5654783 DOI: 10.1364/boe.8.004331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We have used scanning X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) with micro-focused synchrotron radiation to study histological sections from human substantia nigra (SN). Both XRF and XRD mappings visualize tissue properties, which are inaccessible by conventional microscopy and histology. We propose to use these advanced tools to characterize neuronal tissue in neurodegeneration, in particular in Parkinson's disease (PD). To this end, we take advantage of the recent experimental progress in x-ray focusing, detection, and use automated data analysis scripts to enable quantitative analysis of large field of views. XRD signals are recorded and analyzed both in the regime of small-angle (SAXS) and wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS). The SAXS signal was analyzed in view of the local myelin structure, while WAXS was used to identify crystalline deposits. PD tissue scans exhibited increased amounts of crystallized cholesterol. The XRF analysis showed increased amounts of iron and decreased amounts of copper in the PD tissue compared to the control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Carboni
- Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen,
Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain”, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen,
Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jan-David Nicolas
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Mareike Töpperwien
- Cluster of Excellence “Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain”, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen,
Germany
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
| | | | - Paul Lingor
- Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen,
Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain”, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen,
Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- Cluster of Excellence “Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain”, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen,
Germany
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen,
Germany
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42
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Kametani S, Tasei Y, Nishimura A, Asakura T. Distinct solvent- and temperature-dependent packing arrangements of anti-parallel β-sheet polyalanines studied with solid-state 13C NMR and MD simulation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:20829-20838. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03693k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Change from rectangular arrangement to staggered arrangement of (Ala)6 by heat treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Kametani
- Department of Biotechnology
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
- Mitsui Chemical Analysis & Consulting Service, Inc
| | - Yugo Tasei
- Department of Biotechnology
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
| | - Akio Nishimura
- Department of Biotechnology
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
| | - Tetsuo Asakura
- Department of Biotechnology
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
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